Absorbent pad configured for receiving waste
An absorbent pad is configured for receiving waste. The absorbent pad includes a base layer and a string. The base layer has a collection region surrounded by a peripheral edge. The string is slidably attached to the peripheral edge at a plurality of locations. The base layer is configured to move from an open position to a closed position. The base layer is configured to be substantially flat such that the string is disposed along the peripheral edge when the base layer is in the open position. The base layer moves from the open position to the closed position in response to sliding the string relative to the plurality of locations, whereby the peripheral edge is drawn together at the plurality of locations to form a bundle and the string is only disposed along the peripheral edge corresponding to the plurality of locations.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/728,850 filed on Nov. 21, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThis disclosure relates to an absorbent pad configured for absorbing waste.
BACKGROUNDMany people enjoy pets. Unfortunately, pets frequently need to urinate and defecate, which creates a mess that someone must clean up. Pets are often trained to perform their bodily functions on a given surface, such as a newspaper. Unfortunately, someone must still dispose of the soiled newspaper or other surface. This can be difficult, as many surfaces disintegrate when they get wet. Moreover, if the newspaper or other surface is not lifted correctly, urine or feces can fall out and onto the floor. The corners or edges of these surfaces are often covered in urine or feces, making it unavoidable that the individual charged with disposing of the mess must come into contact with a soiled portion of the surface.
SUMMARYIn one aspect of the disclosure, an absorbent pad is configured for receiving waste. The absorbent pad includes a base layer and a string. The base layer includes a collection region surrounded by a peripheral edge. The string is slidably attached to the peripheral edge of the base layer at a plurality of locations. The base layer is configured to move from an open position to a closed position. The base layer is configured to be substantially flat such that the string is disposed along the peripheral edge when the base layer is in the open position. The base layer is configured to move from the open position to the closed position in response to sliding the string relative to the plurality of locations, whereby the peripheral edge is drawn together at the first and second location to form a bundle such that the string is only disposed along the peripheral edge corresponding to each of the plurality of locations.
In another aspect of the disclosure, the absorbent pad includes a base layer and a string. The base layer includes a collection region surrounded by a peripheral edge. The peripheral edge defines a channel at each of plurality of locations. The string slidably extends through each of the channels. The base layer is configured to move from an open position to a closed position. The base layer is configured to be substantially flat such that the string is disposed along the peripheral edge when the base layer is in the open position. The base layer is configured to move from the open position to the closed position in response to sliding the string through the channels, whereby the peripheral edge is drawn together at each of the plurality of locations to form a bundle such that the string is only disposed along the peripheral edge corresponding to each of the plurality of locations.
In yet another aspect of the disclosure, the absorbent pad includes a base layer, a ring layer, and a string. The base layer includes a collection region surrounded by a peripheral edge. The peripheral edge defines a channel at each of a first, second, third, and fourth location. The ring layer corresponds to a shape of the peripheral edge. The string slidably extends through each of the channels. The base layer is configured to move from an open position to a closed position. The base layer is configured to be substantially flat such that the string is disposed along the peripheral edge between the ring layer and the base layer when the base layer is in the open position. The base layer is configured to move from the open position to the closed position in response to sliding the string through the channels, whereby the peripheral edge is drawn together at the first, second, third, and fourth location to form a bundle such that the string is only disposed along the peripheral edge between the ring layer and the base layer corresponding to the first, second, third, and fourth location.
The absorbent pad has a peripheral edge with a string slidably attached to the absorbent pad at a plurality of locations along the peripheral edge. The absorbent pad is configured to provide a location for a pet to deposit their waste. Once the pet has deposited their waste, the absorbent pad may be picked up by grasping the string at one of the locations such that the locations are drawn together to form a bundle that retains the waste therein.
The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages, of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of some of the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the invention, as defined in the appended claims, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, an absorbent pad 20, configured for receiving waste 22, is shown at in
The base layer 24 includes a first layer 32, a second layer 34, and a ring layer 36. The first layer 32 may be formed from an absorbent material. The absorbent material may include cloth, cellulose, gel, and the like. The cloth may include cotton, muslin, terry toweling, polymers, and the like. The gel may be a silica gel and the like. The absorbent material is configured for absorbing urine and other undesirable substances. The absorbent pad 20 allows waste 22, such as urine, feces, vomit, and the like, to be picked up and disposed of by a human, without the human having to contact the waste 22.
The second layer 34 may be formed from a fluid impermeable material. More specifically, the second layer 34 may be formed from polyethylene, polymers, a cloth-like film, and the like, that prevents any liquids from leaking out of the absorbent pad 20. The first layer 32 may be secured to the second layer 34 with adhesive, heat sealing, fasteners, and the like.
The base layer 24 is configured for moving between an open position 38, as illustrated in
The string 26 may be formed from cotton, polyester, nylon, and the like. The string 26 may be formed to have a thin and flat cross-section, a round cross-section, and the like. Referring to
Referring again to
The absorbent pad 20 may also include the ring layer 36 that corresponds to a shape of the peripheral edge 30. Therefore, if the base layer 24 is rectangular in shape, then the ring layer 36 would also be rectangular in shape, so as to match the rectangular shape of the corresponding peripheral edge 30. As such, the ring layer 36 surrounds the periphery of the collection region 28.
The ring layer 36 may be formed from a fluid impermeable material, such as polyethylene, a cloth-like film, and the like. The ring layer 36 is configured to prevent any liquids from leaking therethrough. The ring layer 36 is configured such that the string 26 is disposed between the ring layer 36 and the first layer 32 when the base layer 24 is in the open position 38, as illustrated in
The ring layer 36 presents an inner edge 58 surrounding the collection area and an outer edge 60 that surrounds the inner edge 58. The ring layer 36 is operatively attached to the base layer 24 at the inner edge 58 and not attached to the base layer 24 at the outer edge 60. As such, an apron 84 is formed between the ring layer 36 and the base layer 24 and the string 26 is operatively disposed under the apron 84 when the absorbent pad 20 is in the open position 38, as shown in
The absorbent pad 20 may also include a restraint 62 at each of the first, second, third, and fourth corner 50, 52, 54, 56. As such, a channel 82 is defined between each of the restraints 62 and the inner edge 58 at each location 42, 44, 46, 48. The string 26 is slidably disposed in the channel 82 defined between the inner edge 58 of the ring layer 36 and each respective restraint 62 such that the string 26 is slidably retained to the base layer 24 at each location 42, 44, 46, 48. Therefore, since the string 26 is formed as a continuous loop, the restraints 62 keep the string 26 retained to the absorbent pad 20, while allowing the string 26 to be pulled, relative to the base layer 24, at any of the locations 42, 44, 46, 48.
The ring layer 36 may also define at least one opening 70 between the inner edge 58 and the outer edge 60. More specifically, referring to
While the best modes for carrying out the disclosure have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this disclosure relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the disclosure within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. An absorbent pad configured for receiving waste, the absorbent pad comprising:
- a base layer including a collection region surrounded by a peripheral edge having a rectangular shape, such that a first corner, a second corner, a third corner, and a fourth corner are disposed in spaced relationship to one another along the peripheral edge; and
- a string slidably attached to the base layer at only the first corner, the second corner, third corner, and the fourth corner;
- wherein the base layer is configured to move from an open position to a closed position;
- wherein the base layer is configured to be substantially flat when the base layer is in the open position such that the string is configured to be disposed along the entire peripheral edge when the base layer is in the open position; and
- wherein the base layer is configured to move from the open position to the closed position in response to sliding the string relative to the base layer at each of the first corner, the second corner, the third corner, and the fourth corner, such that, in the closed position, the peripheral edge is drawn together at each of the first corner, the second corner, the third corner, and the fourth corner, to form a bundle and the string is not disposed along the peripheral edge extending between each of the first corner, the second corner, the third corner, and the fourth corner.
2. An absorbent pad, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the string is formed as a loop.
3. An absorbent pad, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the base layer includes a first layer and a ring layer corresponding to a shape of the peripheral edge;
- wherein the ring layer is configured such that the string is disposed between the ring layer and the first layer when the base layer is in the open position; and
- wherein the ring layer is configured such that portions of the string that are not slidably attached to the peripheral edge at the first, second, third, and fourth location are not disposed between the ring layer and the first layer when the base layer is in the closed position.
4. An absorbent pad, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the ring layer presents an inner edge surrounding the collection area and an outer edge surrounding the inner edge;
- wherein the ring layer is operatively attached to the base layer at the inner edge such that portions of the string that are not slidably attached to the peripheral edge at the first, second, third, and fourth location are not disposed between the ring layer and the first layer when the base layer is in the closed position.
5. An absorbent pad, as set forth in claim 4, further comprising a restraint at each of the first, second, third, and fourth corner;
- wherein the string is slidably disposed between each of the restraints and the inner edge of the ring layer such that portions of the string that are not slidably disposed between each of the restraints and the inner edge are also not disposed between the ring layer and the first layer when the base layer is in the closed position.
6. An absorbent pad, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the ring layer defines at least one opening between the inner edge and the outer edge to provide access to grasp the string.
7. An absorbent pad, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the ring layer defines an opening at each of the first, second, third, and fourth corners.
8. An absorbent pad, as set forth in claim 3 wherein the first layer is formed from an absorbent material.
9. An absorbent pad, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the base layer includes a second layer formed from a fluid impermeable material such that the first layer is disposed between the ring layer and the second layer.
10. An absorbent pad, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the base layer includes:
- a first layer formed from an absorbent material; and
- a second layer formed from a fluid impermeable material configured to prevent liquid from leaking through the absorbent pad.
11. An absorbent pad configured for receiving waste, the absorbent pad comprising:
- a base layer including a collection region surrounded by a peripheral edge having a rectangular shape, such that a first corner, a second corner, a third corner, and a fourth corner are disposed in spaced relationship to one another along the peripheral edge;
- wherein each of the first corner, the second corner, the third corner, and the fourth corner defines a channel; and
- a string slidably extending through each of the channels such that the string is slidably attached to the base layer only at each of the first corner, the second corner, the third corner, and the fourth corner;
- wherein the base layer is configured to move from an open position to a closed position;
- wherein the base layer is configured to be substantially flat when the base layer is in the open position such that the string is configured to be disposed along the entire peripheral edge when the base layer is in the open position; and
- wherein the base layer is configured to move from the open position to the closed position in response to sliding the string through the channels, relative to the base layer, such that the peripheral edge is drawn together at each of the first corner, the second corner, the third corner, and the fourth corner to form a bundle such that the string is not disposed along the peripheral edge extending between each of the first corner, the second corner, the third corner, and the fourth corner.
12. An absorbent pad, as set forth in claim 11, further comprising a flap covering each channel.
13. An absorbent pad, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the string is formed as a loop.
14. An absorbent pad, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the base layer includes:
- a first layer formed from an absorbent material; and
- a second layer formed from a fluid impermeable material configured to prevent liquid from leaking through the absorbent pad.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Jul 2, 2013
Date of Patent: Sep 20, 2016
Patent Publication Number: 20140138966
Assignee: Pet Food Express (Oakland, CA)
Inventor: Jason E. Ferguson (Richmond, CA)
Primary Examiner: Paul T Chin
Application Number: 13/933,440
International Classification: A01K 23/00 (20060101); A01K 1/01 (20060101);